The Mill delighted audiences in August and September with an impeccable production of Robin Hawdon's Don't Dress for Dinner (from Marc Camoletti's French original) in which all manner of marital highjinks occur in a converted farmhouse in the French countryside. Now this admirable dinner theatre is reducing audiences to helpless laughter once more with this consistently entertaining (The Mating Game, Birthday Suite, Perfect Wedding) playwright's latest work.
A Night in Provence, as its title suggests, delivers us once more to the French countryside, there to witness the arrival of two British holidaymakers at their rented villa. Exclamations of approval punctuate the explorations of Judy (Lisa Hull) and Fred (Darren Machin) as they take in the view, the pool and the lavish domestic facilities - houseproud Judy is especially smitten by the kitchen. But the sudden arrival of a French couple, Maurice (Michael Fenner) and Yvette (Mary Conlon) throws a significant spanner in the works. They are the owners of the place and, unaware of the English couple's last-minute booking, have come on holiday too. After much argument, during which no one is prepared to leave, it is agreed that they will all muck in together. It is at this point that Judy and Fred are obliged to introduce a further aspect to the problem: rapidly approaching the same holiday home are their Irish friends Shaun (Toby Dale) and Moira (Jemma Churchill), who are going to have to be fitted in too.
The cosy domestic arrangement soon takes a deliciously comic turn, in part through the national characteristics and antipathies revealed by the various characters. Amusement chiefly arises, however, from the attractions that spring up between them, sometimes unlikely. Judy turns out to be conducting a long-time fling with Shaun, the discovery of which makes Moira a little less guilty about her developing fondness for Maurice. The cuckolded Fred, meanwhile, starts to see significant attractions in Yvette.
All speeds merrily towards a satisfactory solution to almost everyone's problems, with a neat twist at the very end. The acting in all cases is first-class, under director Ian Masters. On until November 24, the show - with the Mill's excellent dinner beforehand - makes for a great night out.
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